Eyelet attaching device



March 27, 1934.

c, J. KELLER EYELET ATTACHING DEVICE 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed July 23. 1952 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT GFFICE EYELETATTACHING DEVICE Clarence J. Keller, Anderson, Ind., assignor to Delco-Remy Corporation, Anderson, Ind a cor-- porationof Delaware Application July 23, 1932, Serial No. 624,218

8 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic eyelet attaching devices and particularly to a device for attaching an eyelet to an insulating bushing.

It is among the objects of the present invention to crimp one end of an eyelet over the adjacent end of an insulating bushing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable work support for carrying a plurality of bushings successively into operating position in which an eyelet is inserted into a bushing prior to the crimping operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of t .e present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is another'perspective view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary constructive view of the work-holder drum and its indexing mechanism, certain parts being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view of one of the die members, a bushing and an inserted eyelet being shown supported bya suitable block before the crimping operation.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing, however, a just completed crimping operation.

Fig. 7 shows an assembled bushing and eyelet in their adapted use.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the reference numeral 20 designates a punchpress frame having a crankshaft 21 which reciprocates a ram 22 which is vertically slidably supported by the punchpress frame 20. The crankshaft 21 is driven by an electric motor (not shown) through a suitable gear reduction, (also not shown) and through a belt 23 which drives a fly-wheel'24 attached to the crankshaft 21. A hopper 25', containing a supply of eyelets, is attached to the punchpress frame in any suitable manner. The interior of the hopper communicates with a chute 26 which guides a continuous row of orderly arranged eyelets adjacent a plunger to be described. Since the hopper and the chute do not form part of my invention, no detailed description is deemed necessary, it being sufficient to state that the entrance to the passage in the chute is of such shape that only orderly arranged eyelets mayenter the chute therethrough. The lower end of the chute carries a mechanism which transfers the lower-1 most eyelet therein into an aligned bushing located in a work-support which is to be described presently. This mechanism is operated in response to a workstroke of the ram and has completed an eyelet transfer before a plunger carried by the ram bodily engages the same. As this mechanism does not form part of my invention no detailed description thereof will be had. The various mechanisms of the machine will now be described under the following headings: Rotary worksupport A, Worksupport indexing mechanism B, and Movable ram C.

Rotary worksupport A Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown a rotary worksupport or drum 30 having a bushing 31 pressfitted therein which is journaled intermediate the ends of a stubshaft 32, rotatably supported in bushings 33 and 34 which are pressfitted into parallel side walls 35 and 36 respectively, mounted in any suitable manner on the punchpress frame. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the stubshaft 32 there is provided a retainer plate 3'? and 38 on each end of the stubshaft 32, which plates are drawn into firm engagement with the bushings 33 and 34 respectively, by screws 39 and 40 respectively, which are received by stub shaft 32. Eccentrically arranged pins 41 prevent rotation of the stubshaft 32 relative to the retainer plates 37 and 38. Longitudinal movement of the drum 30 is prevented by the parallel side walls 35 and 36 which abut the plane end surfaces of the drum. The periphery of the drum 30 is provided with equiangularly spaced apertures 42 whose axes lie in one plane transverse of the axis of stubshaft 32. Pressfitted in each of these apertures is a cupshaped member 43 and slidable in the cylindrical recess 44 of said cupshaped member is a bushing; locating block 45 which is yieldingly urged in one direction by a spring 46, located within said recess and bearing against the inner bottom surface 47 thereof. A screw stud 48, received by the cup shaped member projects into a longitudinal groove 49 provided by the locating block 45 in order to limit its longitudinal movement within the cupshaped member. As best seen in Fig. 5, a die member 50 is pressfitted into the cupshaped member 43, projects through aportion of the locating block 45 and into a cylindrical recess 52 provided by said locating block and adapted to receive a bushing a with its flange a resting on top of the locating block. In a manner to be described later an eyelet b inform of a flanged tubular member is inserted into the bushing a with its flange 1) resting against the flange a of the bushing. The relative position of the locating block 45 with respect to the die member as shown in Fig. 5 prevails during the greater part of a complete revolution of each locating block on the drum. Only in one intermittent resting position, to wit, in operating position I, the ram (to be described) causes the aligned locating block 45 with the parts carried thereby to move relative to the die member 50 whereby the unflanged end of the eyelet is crimped over the adjacent end of the bushing in amanner to be described later.

Worlcsupport indexing mechanism B Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 4,

drum 30 is provided with a cylindrical projection on which is located a ratchet wheel 61 coaxially of said drum. A plurality of screws 62 secure the ratchet wheel to the drum. A pawl 63, pivoted as at 64 to a reciprocable bar 65, is adapted to index the ratchet wheel in the direction of arrow 66 in Fig. 3, in order axially. to align successive preassembled bushings and eyelets, carried by the drum, withthe reciprocable ram. Bar is guided for horizontal movement through an aperture67 which is provided by the punchpress frame. That end of bar 65 which is opposite pawl 63 is connected by a link 68 with a lever 69 carrying a cam roller70 which cooperates with a cam disc 71, attachedin any suitable manner to the crankshaft 21. Lever 69is pivotally mounted as at 72 to a bracket arm '73 which is held spaced from the punchpress frame 20 by a plurality of studs Maud secured to said studs by screws '75. To prevent bending or breaking of the bracket arm 73 due to the comparatively great distancefrom the. stud support to the pivot point 72, the. upper end of said bracket arm is held against movement in any direction by being journaled on the. extreme. end of crankshaft 21. It will be. understood from Fig. 3, that upon movement of the bar 65 and ratchet63, toward the right, the drum will be rotated in the direction of arrow 66. In order to prevent dragging of the drum in the reverse direction by the pawl 63 which rides idly over the ratchet teeth into position for a new indexing operation, there is provided another pawl '76, which ispivoted to the side wall 36, urgedinto constant engagement with theratchet teeth by a compressed spring '77 and preventing rotation of the. drum in the direction of arrow 78. It will be understood from the drawings that the cam action of cam disc '71 moves the. bar 65 with the pawl 63 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3, but not toward the right. In order-to move the bar 65 with pawl 63 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 there is provided a plunger 79 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is slidingly received withinthe tubular portion 80 of a bracket 81 mounted on the machine frame, and pivotally connected with the lever 69. Located within the tubular portion 80 of bracket 81 and interposed between the end of plunger '79 inside said tubular portion and a cap 82, threadedly received thereby, is a spring (not shown) which urgesthe plunger toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby maintaining cam roller '70 in constant engagement with cam disc '71. Cam disc'71 'is so designed that an indexing operation takes place when the ram withdraws from the drum. 1

Movable mm C Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6 the lower portion of the ram 22 is recessed for pressfittedly receiving a plunger which is to move a bushing and eyelet as shown in Fig. 5 toward die member 56. The plunger 90 is hollow and carries therein a rod 91 having a head 92 for engaging in interior shoulder 93 provided by said plunger. Rod 91 is slida-ble therein and normal- 1y yieldingly urged in one direction by a spring 94 which is located in the recess of the ram. As more clearly shown in Fig. 6, rod 91 projects beyond the end of plunger 90. Upon downward movement the rod 91 will in a manner immaterial to thisinvention receive the lowermost eyelet in the before mentioned chute 26 and carry the same downwardly into an ali ned bushing. Upon downward movement of the ram 22, rod 91 will move in unison with the ram until it comes to rest when engaging die member 50. During such unitary movement the eleyet is introduced into an aligned bushing. Upon continued movement of the ram downwardly the plunger 90 will engage theflange b of the eyelet and move the same with the bushing and loeating block 45 toward die member 50 andupon engagement. of the unflanged end of said eyelet with the same it will be crimped over the adjacent end of the bushing as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Rod 91 prevents a caving in of the cylindrical wall of the eyelet during the crimping operation. The lost motion between rod 91 and the plunger 98 is taken up by the spring 94.

Crankshaft 21 is continuously rotating and the ram 22 is therefore continuously reciprocated thus making unnecessary manipulations byan operator to start the machine again after each crimping operation. In front of the machine where the operator stands there is a hopper 100 mounted on the punch press frame. which contains a supply of bushings a from which the operator loads the passing locatingblocks. In order to prevent the operator from being caught by the reciprocating ram which is beyond his immediate control, there is provided a guard 1G5 mounted on both side walls 35. and 36 as best shown in Fig. 2.,

The assembled bushings and eyelets will finally drop from their locating blocks by gravity into any suitable, receptacle (not shown).

Fig. 7 shows an assembled bushing and. eyelet in their adapted use. The stranded conductor of an insulated wire d is soldered to the inlet b, and the bushing a of nonconductive-material preferably bakelite, insulates the stranded conductor from a sleeve (1 which is typical of the bayonet type connectors.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a rotary drum, a plurality of supports for bushings carried 'on the periphery of the drum; a die for each support carried by the drum for deforming a portion of the eyelet upon movement of the same relative to the die wherebythe eyelet is attached to the bushing; a reciprocableram for moving an aligned eyelet relative to its die; means carried by the ram for preventing deformation of the eyelet other than that portion which'is' deformed by thedie; means for reciprocating the ram; and means actuated in response to the operation of the last said means for indexing-the drum so as to align consecutive bushing supports with the ram and to move the assembled bushings into a position in which they descend from their supports by gravity.

2. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a rotary drum; a plurality of supports for bushings floatingly mounted on the periphery of the drum; a die for each support carried by the drum for deforming a portion of the eyelet upon movement of the same relative to the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; a reciprocable ram for moving an aligned eyelet together with its bushing and support relative to its die; means for reciprocating the ram; and means actuated in response to the operation of the last said means for indexing the drum so as to align consecutive bushing supports with the ram and to move the assembled bushings into a position in which they descend from their supports by gravity.

3. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a rotary drum; a plurality of supports for bushings floatingly mounted on the periphery of the drum; a die for each support carried by the drum for deforming a portion of the eyelet upon movement of the same relative to the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; a reciprocable ram for moving an aligned eyelet together with its bushing and support relative to its die; means carried by the ram for preventing deformation of the eyelet other than that portion which is deformed by the die; means for reciprocating the ram; and means actuated in response to the operation of the last said means for indexing the drum so as to align consecutive bushing supports with the ram and to move the assembled bushings into a position in which they descend from their supports by gravity.

4. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis; a plurality of supports for bushings carried on the periphery of the drum; 9, die for each support carried by the drum for deforming a position of the eyelet upon movement of the same relative to the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; a reciprocable ram for moving an aligned eyelet relative to its die; means for reciprocating the ram; and means actuated in response to the operation of the last said means for indexing the drum so as to align consecutive bushing supports with the ram and to move the assembled bushings into a position in which they descend by gravity from their supports.

5. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a block; a bushing support slidably supported on its periphery by said block; a stop carried by the block; a

spring urging the support into engagement with said stop; a die mounted in the block and extending into the bushing support for deforming a portion of an eyelet in a bushing upon movement of the eyelet relative to the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; and a movable ram for moving the eyelet together with its bushing and support relative to the die.

6. A device for attaching an eyelet to a bushing comprising, in combination, a block; a bushing support slidably supported on its periphery by said block; a, stop carried by the block; a spring urging the support into engagement with the stop; a die mounted in the block and extending into the bushing support for deforming a portion of an eyelet in a bushing upon movement of the eyelet relative to the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; a movable ram for moving the eyelet together with its bushing and support relative to the die; and a rod yieldingly carried by the ram and extending through the eyelet during a deforming operation to prevent collapsing of the wall of the eyelet.

7. A device for attaching a tubular member to a bushing member comprising, in combination, a block; a support for one of the members, the other member being inserted in said one member and said support being slidably supported on its periphery by said block; a, stop carried by the block; a spring urging the support into engagement with said stop; a die mounted in the block and extending into the support for deforming a portion of the tubular member upon relative movement between the latter and the die whereby the tubular member is attached to the bushing member; a ram adapted to engage the tubular member and to cause relative movement between the die and said tubular member upon relative movement between the ram and the block; and means-for causing relative movement between the ram and the block.

8. A device for attaching an eyelet toa bushing comprising, in combination, a block; a bushing support slidably supported on its periphery by said block; a stop carried by the block; a spring urging the support into engagement with said stop; a die mounted in the block and ex-- tending into the support for deforming a portion of the eyelet upon relative movement between the latter and the die whereby the eyelet is attached to the bushing; a ram adapted to engage the eyelet and to cause relative movement between the die and said eyelet upon relative movement between the ram and the block; means for causing relative movement between the ram and the block; and a rod yieldingly carried by the ram and extending through the eyelet during a deforming operation to prevent collapsing of the wall of the eyelet.

CLARENCE J. KELLER. 

